ABANDON THE MINIMUM WAGE
Peter LeGuillou
August 02, 2008
According to my calculations, the United States era of power and growth has peaked and a reversal of fortune is the order of the day. The reversal will last for the rest of this century, at least. A period of adjustment based on wise decisions and fairness to all citizens may allow the United States to gradually resume its global authority after this period is over. During the "absence" of the US, some other group of nations will control the world economy. The words to describe this event are not easy to find. Belt tightening is a nice euphemism. The dollar is still respected based on its very long history of strength. Gradually, the world will conclude that a reversal is occurring. The world will replace the dollar as the basis of world currency foundation with some other monetary method. The housing crisis / credit crisis is just a symptom of the peaking of US growth. Widespread illiteracy is just a symptom. Drug addiction is just a symptom. Welfare is just a symptom. Obesity is just a symptom. Suspicion of government is just a symptom. Budget deficit is just a symptom. Loss of moral compass is just a symptom.
What does this mean for our domestic employment policies?
Keeping the Minimum Wage laws (MWL) intact reduces the chances of United States getting through the next hundred years of productivity challenge. One hundred years is an estimate based on mathematics of the most scholarly astrology. Extraordinary discoveries in energy sources can make a positive difference and change this forecast slightly. Barring that, great sacrifice will be required. A willingness to let go of the past will be necessary. An acceptance that what is happening is a normal cycle of nations will go a long way toward allowing new ideas to proliferate in a positive and constructive manner. Wallowing in nostalgia must be avoided. Civil obedience must be encouraged.
The work-a-day world as we know it will gradually disintegrate in an energy deficient society. Maintaining the MWL will accelerate this decay. I recommend a steady 10 percent cut in the minimum wage over the next dozen years or so in order to allow business to operate with lower overhead. A faster cutting process depends on circumstances; wisdom suggests allowing the market place to speak. Permitting governments or Congress to dictate laws in the marketplace is a bad idea. In a democracy, government is the enemy of the people---in the LONG RUN. Politicians pander constantly. This is unacceptable because it legalizes unfairness. The government that governs least, governs best. Let the markets decide what price to pay and whom to pay it to.
I don´t think there will be a need for a large government such as exists today in this new America. Money for governmental costs is better spent on creating new forms of manufacturing that keep citizens employed. It may be a time to clean up the United States environment and open up new farmlands or restore old farms. Certainly many cities and towns can use a painting and sweeping. Government agencies that function in the global arena are subject to a good pruning. The US participation in shaping world affairs is nearly finished. Money saved can balance the budget, restore some value to the dollar and ease the pain. The Department of the Interior is going to be most important in the future. All of the power plants, dams, highways, etc, must be maintained. As much as possible the communications networks must be maintained.
Education policy is subject to review. There really is no need for zillions of lawyers and investment bankers and political scientists. Most workers tomorrow will be in the cleaning, skilled trade, technology maintenance or food gathering industries. The only studies really necessary are the physical sciences, languages, health, engineering and mathematics. Everything else can be safely disposed of as irrelevant. Children, on average, probably only need 8 years of education, then they will go off to learn a trade like shoe making or agriculture. People with skills who can teach must be sought after. Skilled craftsmen will make or break the hopes for a new US manufacturing potential. The US cannot rely on foreign nations for its goods any longer. Basic necessities must be produced domestically.
This really is an about face for America coming up very fast. The acceptance of solid facts about what really built up America, namely, cheap fossil fuel, designing a reduced MWL and a willingness of political parties to take a back seat to the marketplace will go a long way to insuring the US gets through this readjustment intact and with civility. Demagogues with agendas must be watched out for and censored. They can turn this century into an unnecessary blood bath of special interests at war with each other.
For those interested, I use the Gemini rising USA horoscope and progressions. I also consider solar eclipses.
What does this mean for our domestic employment policies?
Keeping the Minimum Wage laws (MWL) intact reduces the chances of United States getting through the next hundred years of productivity challenge. One hundred years is an estimate based on mathematics of the most scholarly astrology. Extraordinary discoveries in energy sources can make a positive difference and change this forecast slightly. Barring that, great sacrifice will be required. A willingness to let go of the past will be necessary. An acceptance that what is happening is a normal cycle of nations will go a long way toward allowing new ideas to proliferate in a positive and constructive manner. Wallowing in nostalgia must be avoided. Civil obedience must be encouraged.
The work-a-day world as we know it will gradually disintegrate in an energy deficient society. Maintaining the MWL will accelerate this decay. I recommend a steady 10 percent cut in the minimum wage over the next dozen years or so in order to allow business to operate with lower overhead. A faster cutting process depends on circumstances; wisdom suggests allowing the market place to speak. Permitting governments or Congress to dictate laws in the marketplace is a bad idea. In a democracy, government is the enemy of the people---in the LONG RUN. Politicians pander constantly. This is unacceptable because it legalizes unfairness. The government that governs least, governs best. Let the markets decide what price to pay and whom to pay it to.
I don´t think there will be a need for a large government such as exists today in this new America. Money for governmental costs is better spent on creating new forms of manufacturing that keep citizens employed. It may be a time to clean up the United States environment and open up new farmlands or restore old farms. Certainly many cities and towns can use a painting and sweeping. Government agencies that function in the global arena are subject to a good pruning. The US participation in shaping world affairs is nearly finished. Money saved can balance the budget, restore some value to the dollar and ease the pain. The Department of the Interior is going to be most important in the future. All of the power plants, dams, highways, etc, must be maintained. As much as possible the communications networks must be maintained.
Education policy is subject to review. There really is no need for zillions of lawyers and investment bankers and political scientists. Most workers tomorrow will be in the cleaning, skilled trade, technology maintenance or food gathering industries. The only studies really necessary are the physical sciences, languages, health, engineering and mathematics. Everything else can be safely disposed of as irrelevant. Children, on average, probably only need 8 years of education, then they will go off to learn a trade like shoe making or agriculture. People with skills who can teach must be sought after. Skilled craftsmen will make or break the hopes for a new US manufacturing potential. The US cannot rely on foreign nations for its goods any longer. Basic necessities must be produced domestically.
This really is an about face for America coming up very fast. The acceptance of solid facts about what really built up America, namely, cheap fossil fuel, designing a reduced MWL and a willingness of political parties to take a back seat to the marketplace will go a long way to insuring the US gets through this readjustment intact and with civility. Demagogues with agendas must be watched out for and censored. They can turn this century into an unnecessary blood bath of special interests at war with each other.
For those interested, I use the Gemini rising USA horoscope and progressions. I also consider solar eclipses.
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